Mara Plains Camp is an exceptional, intimate safari camp in the exclusive Olare Orok Conservancy, a 30,000-acre private conservation area on the northern border of the Masai Mara National Reserve. You can enjoy the spectacular game-viewing for which the Mara is renowned on extraordinarily flexible game drives – and on night drives.

The camp is set into the tree line along the Ntiakatek River – a wonderful spot for birdwatching – and barely visible from the plains. Its six enormous, octagonal tented rooms stand on raised decks and are extremely comfortable, with “Persian” rugs on wooden floors, a king-size bed from which you can watch the plains, a wet-room shower, a choice of field guides and a private verandah overlooking the rolling savannah.

The main area encompasses the two spacious lounges, furnished with armchairs and sofas, with views onto the plains in front and the riverine forest behind; and the dining room – though lunch may be served under the trees beside the river or dinner enjoyed under the stars beside the campfire.

There are a number of small, luxury camps in and around the Masai Mara. We believe that Mara Plains offers a particularly rewarding safari because its guides are mature, highly qualified and have excellent English; the vehicles can be completely open at the front, too, which gives you a 360° view; and the camp really is organised around the game activity and your wishes – you can stay out all day, if you want to. Moreover, Mara Plains has traversing rights not only in the exclusive Olare Orok Conservancy, where you will rarely see another vehicle, but also in the 80,000-acre Mara North Conservancy and the national reserve.

The Olare Orok is superb for predators. Four lion prides have territories in the conservancy and cheetah have established territories on the plains beyond the river. Leopard are regularly sighted. The grasslands beyond the camp are often grazed by a dozen species of herbivore, joined by hippo at night.

The hosting is warm and knowledgeable, the food is very good and international brand drinks are included. Above all, Mara Plains is one of those pioneering a new, fair and transparent model of tourism in Kenya – without which the wildlife dispersal areas and the Mara’s wildlife will not survive. We think you’ll love it.